PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 986, 4 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 3. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. The Hon. Mr Holmes moved that it is desirable to discontinue the San Francisco mail service, and to encourage a fast mail communication by a direct service. After discussion, the motion was withdrawn. VALIDATION BILL. The Gisborne Courts Procedure Validation Bill was passed through all its stages. BILLS. The Married Women’s Property Bill was recommitted and farther amended. The Bills of Exchange Bill was further considered in Committee. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m.

HOUSEiOP REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, July 3. The House met at 2.30. NATIVE LAND COMPANY’S BILL. Mr DeLautour presented a petition for the New Zealand Native Lands Company’s Private Bill. The petition was endorsed by the Examiners on the Standing Orders, that the Standing Orders had not been com* plied with, as the published notices for the Bill did not sufficiently set forth the powers actually sought. The notices stated that the land was to be acquired and held by the company, ‘ ‘ as trustees er agents,” whereas by clause 6 of the proposed Bill power is to be taken to acquire land by “ way of absolute purchase. ” The declaration accompanying the petition was alo technically wrong. The Bill has also not been deposited in the Colonial Secretary’s office, as required by Standing Order No 32. The petition and report stood referred to the Joint Committee on Standing Orders on Private Hills. QUESTIONS. Ministers answered a number of questious, none of which were of public interest.

BILLS. The following Bills were introduced, and read a first tiine:—To Amend the Law of Distress (Mr Holmes); Roads thr >ugh Private Lands (Mr Iveas); Drainage of Mines (Mr J. O. Brown); Auctioneers (Mr T. Dick); the Land Acts Amendment Bill to vest certain Lands in the Town of Invercargill in the New River Harbor Board (Mr Feld wick). THE ANNEXATION QUESTION. The Hon Major Atkinson moved the following resolutions, and, in doing so, said the debate would be taken on the Committee’s report ; —“That a Select Committee be appointed io consider and report upon the following resolution : ‘ That this House approves of the steps taken by the Government, in conjunction with other of the Australian colonies, to promote the establishment of British rule in certain islands of the Pacific ; that this House undertakes for its part to give

effect to any assurance that may be required by the Imperial Government; that ’ this colony will, in common with the other colonies of Australasia, bear a fair share of the necessary expenses ; the Committee to consist of Sir George Grey, Messrs Montgomery, Peacock, Wynn-Williams, Larnach, and the mover.’” Carried. BILLS. The following Bills were read a second time :—Bankruptcy; Impounding; Mining Companies Act, 1872, Amendment ; and Affirmation aud Declaration Bills. Itt Committee, the New Zealand University Act, 1874, Amendment Bill passed without amendment. tenants’ fixtures bill. Mr Montgomery |moved an addition to clause 6, “ provided always that security shall be given by the tenant, if demanded, before such fixtures shall be removed.”— Carried. The Houae adjourned at 6.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30, when it was lighted for the first time by the electric light. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. After the delivery of the Public Works Statement, * Mr Seodon moved the adjournment, criticising the Statement adversely. Sir G. Grey spoke in the same strain, bat the motion was negatived. in committee. The Tenants’ Fixtures Bill and the Prisons Bill were contidered in Committee and reported with amendments. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. These estimates were received by a message from the Governor. The House rose at 12.45.